Single vs Multi-threaded applications

[Kogi]

How can you tell which applications are single threaded and which are multi? This is coming from a guy without any computer science knowledge in the languages. I'm just looking to learn. What common things like web browsing, gaming, video streaming, youtubing, etc are multi and which are single threaded?

 

 

Still in the process of googling info so pointing me in the right direction or linking me to a guide would help.

[Enderman]

Every application is different. Open up task manager and see which cores are getting used (spiking up above 5%) for each application.

[ddbtkd456]

How can you tell which applications are single threaded and which are multi? This is coming from a guy without any computer science knowledge in the languages. I'm just looking to learn. What common things like web browsing, gaming, video streaming, youtubing, etc are multi and which are single threaded?

 

 

Still in the process of googling info so pointing me in the right direction or linking me to a guide would help.

 

This is a basic outline but as the above post says every one is different.

 

Multi-threaded

 

Gaming

Music Encoding

Video Rendering

 

Single:

 

Web Browsing

Youtubing

[Boink]

Most web browsers are single threaded as are most light applications. Most games are multi-threaded but can only utilize 4 threads, this is the reason people recommend an i5 (4 threaded processor) for gaming versus an i7 (8 threads). Things like video rendering/encoding and 3d animation are multi-threaded and support more than 4 threads.

 

The general rule is if the application uses more CPU power, it can use more threads.

[ddbtkd456]

Most web browsers are single threaded as are most light applications. Most games are multi-threaded but can only utilize 4 threads, this is the reason people recommend an i5 (4 threaded processor) for gaming versus an i7 (8 threads). Things like video rendering/encoding and 3d animation are multi-threaded and support more than 4 threads.

 

The general rule is if the application uses more CPU power, it can use more threads.

 

Correct and if you want a power house go with an AMD because of its overclockablitiy

[Kogi]

Are there any other good tools to use like task manager? And are a lot of games multi-threaded nowadays?

 

 

Wondering how beneficial a 4 core cpu vs 2 core for a light gamer, web browser and youtuber

[ddbtkd456]

Are there any other good tools to use like task manager? And are a lot of games multi-threaded nowadays?

 

 

Wondering how beneficial a 4 core cpu vs 2 core for a light gamer, web browser and youtuber

 

Dual cores are completely useless in gaming unless used as servers. Better off with an A-Series or FX - AMD for cheap. Or i5 for quality.

[Windows98SE]

Dual cores are completely useless in gaming unless used as servers.

 

lolwut

[Boink]

Dual cores are completely useless in gaming unless used as servers. Better off with an A-Series or FX - AMD for cheap. Or i5 for quality.

 

That first sentence made almost no sense. Maybe an AMD dual core would do poorly in gaming as AMD processors have less power per core, but as I said above, an Intel i3 is a great (and often overlooked) option for gamers on a budget. There are also great quad core AMD processors available for the same price but lumping all dual cores into the same category is a bad idea.

 

Are there any other good tools to use like task manager? And are a lot of games multi-threaded nowadays?

 

 

Wondering how beneficial a 4 core cpu vs 2 core for a light gamer, web browser and youtuber

To answer this question, yes, most games made recently are multi-threaded nowadays. A good dual core is a viable option for lower end gaming rigs.

[Rubenis]

Dual cores are completely useless in gaming unless used as servers.

Do not agree with you. At least 70% of games uses not more than two cores at present date. So two fast cores will be better than AMDs 8 cores processor with slow cores.

 

Fore example:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/league-of-legends-performance-benchmark,3484-8.html

 

An two generations old Intel Pentium two core processor scores higher than 8 core FX. Why?? Because Pentium has faster core and game is using one or two cores.

 

And since there are not so much games, that can use more than four cores, i5 4 core processor is all you need for proper gaming these days.

 

Battlefield 4 (beeing famous for using "all 8 cores") is showing than i5 with faster cores is very close to FX 8 core cpu. Result - 4 more effiecent cores will work better in most games than 8 slow ones. And even if 8 will be faster, then not by big margin.

 

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/battlefield-4-graphics-card-performance,3634-10.html